UAT 305 · 3(2-2-5) · Year/term 3/2

Autopilot and Control Technology

เทคโนโลยีออโตไพลอตและระบบควบคุม

Progress
Notional hours: 135 h (online/self-study 75 · in class/lab 60)

Course description

flight dynamics, state estimation, control loops, stabilization, position and path control, PID and related control algorithms, autopilot hardware and software architectures, tuning, simulation, and performance testing

Thai description

พลวัตการบิน การประมาณสถานะ วงรอบการควบคุม ระบบรักษาเสถียรภาพ การควบคุมตำแหน่งและเส้นทาง อัลกอริทึม PID และการควบคุมที่เกี่ยวข้อง สถาปัตยกรรมฮาร์ดแวร์และซอฟต์แวร์ออโตไพลอต การปรับจูน การจำลอง และการทดสอบสมรรถนะ

Description source: Curriculum draft (revised 28 Sep 2026)Previous site code: DRT 335

Course learning outcomes (CLO)

CLOOutcomePLO
CLO1Analyse autopilot cascade control structuresPLO1PLO2
CLO2Estimate state and diagnose the EKFPLO2PLO4
CLO3Tune and verify control performance from logsPLO2PLO4

Learning modules

1Autopilot architecture
Weeks 1–3 · 27 h
Lesson 85 minquiz1 KU

Online (before class) · 15 h

Study the assigned knowledge units in advance, review media and take the module quiz

In class / field · 12 h

Lab or field practice from worksheets with a safety checklist

Learning evidence: Checked worksheets and quiz results

2Cascade control
Weeks 4–6 · 27 h
Lesson 90 minquiz1 KU

Online (before class) · 15 h

Study the assigned knowledge units in advance, review media and take the module quiz

In class / field · 12 h

Lab or field practice from worksheets with a safety checklist

Learning evidence: Checked worksheets and quiz results

3State estimation and EKF
Weeks 7–9 · 27 h
Lesson 90 minquiz2 KU

Online (before class) · 15 h

Study the assigned knowledge units in advance, review media and take the module quiz

In class / field · 12 h

Lab or field practice from worksheets with a safety checklist

Learning evidence: Checked worksheets and quiz results

4Log-based tuning
Weeks 10–12 · 27 h
Lesson 90 minquiz3 KU

Online (before class) · 15 h

Study the assigned knowledge units in advance, review media and take the module quiz

In class / field · 12 h

Lab or field practice from worksheets with a safety checklist

Learning evidence: Checked worksheets and quiz results

5Failsafes and geofences
Weeks 13–15 · 27 h
Lesson 85 minquiz2 KU

Online (before class) · 15 h

Study the assigned knowledge units in advance, review media and take the module quiz

In class / field · 12 h

Lab or field practice from worksheets with a safety checklist

Learning evidence: Checked worksheets and quiz results

Assessment (draft)

Labs and worksheets35%
Module quizzes10%
Midterm examination20%
Mini-project or practical exam35%

Knowledge domain

Key references

  1. Beard, R. W., & McLain, T. W. (2012). Small unmanned aircraft: Theory and practice. Princeton University Press. link
  2. PX4 Autopilot. PX4 user and developer guide. link
  3. ArduPilot Dev Team. ArduPilot documentation. link
  4. Groves, P. D. (2013). Principles of GNSS, inertial, and multisensor integrated navigation systems (2nd ed.). Artech House. link